Zack Snyder, New Superman Director, Predicts a 3D Art School Film

Editors note: what follows is an account from a press event in July for Zack Snyder’s latest movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole 3D that we mistakenly attended not knowing it was a movie for children. It never ran because, again, the movie is for children. With news that Mr. Snyder is directing the new Superman movie, however, the anecdote has newfound relevance, so we figured we’d run it.

Real-life owls were stationed at both sides of the reception room at yesterday afternoon’s press preview of Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole 3D at the Time Warner Center. One was available to be photographed with the many children in attendance, the other, a barn owl, was in a glass cage under a red light.

“We heard that the other one can be a bit grumpy,” said someone with Warner Brothers PR. “How awful would it be if he bit one of the kids?”

The informational flyer beside the more ornery of the two described barn owls as “highly nocturnal.”

The preview showed off some key scenes from the children’s movie, a tale of two warring factions of owls in the style of Watership Down. In a speech to the assembled kids, execs and reporters, director Zack Snyder described the story as “Joseph Campbell-ian.” The audience was then treated to a 300-style fight scene featuring the voice of Helen Mirren.

The film will be Mr. Snyder’s first in 3D. After the viewing we asked him about the ongoing debate in the movie industry: is 3D the new standard for filmmaking?

“Yeah I don’t know,” he said. Then he joked: “Some day someone’s going to make an art school film in 3D then this whole debate will be over. “

Then he demonstrated some mid-air fight choreography on us, curling his fingers into owl talons and screeching. Mr. Snyder is not tall, but we found ourselves backing away, slightly.